Dogs housed in shelters often experience chronic stress due to confinement, noise, and lack of consistent social contact. A study by S. Uccheddu and colleagues explored the potential of olfactory enrichment using essential oils to improve the wellbeing of shelter dogs through behavioral and physiological assessments.
The study tested the effects of nine essential oils—including Lavandula angustifolia, Cananga odorata, and Citrus aurantium—plus a combined oil blend, on 110 shelter dogs divided into ten groups. Dogs underwent a cognitive bias test to evaluate their emotional state, alongside behavioral observations and cortisol measurements as a stress indicator.
Notably, dogs exposed to the blend of oils displayed significantly faster response times to ambiguous cues in the test—suggesting a more optimistic cognitive bias. This means the dogs interpreted uncertain situations more positively, a recognized marker of improved emotional welfare. Some individual oils, however, did not yield such effects, indicating that not all scents are equally beneficial for dogs.
The research highlights the value of targeted olfactory enrichment in reducing shelter dog stress and enhancing welfare. These findings support the integration of aromatherapy approaches in kennel management, particularly when dogs are exposed to prolonged or unpredictable confinement environments.
The authors recommend further investigation into the specific effects of individual essential oils to tailor scent-based interventions more effectively for different canine temperaments and needs.
Source: S. Uccheddu, C. Mariti, A. Sannen, H. Vervaecke, H. Arnout, J. G. Rufo, A. Gazzano, and A. Haverbeke. 2018-10-19. “Behavioral and cortisol responses of shelter dogs to a cognitive bias test after olfactory enrichment with essential oils.” Biology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02095
